September Wildlife Alert: Preparing Your Home Before Fall Invaders Move In

September is the most valuable month of the year for wildlife prevention in Delaware and Maryland. Animals are actively searching for winter shelter, but most of them have not settled in yet. A thorough inspection and targeted sealing this month can prevent the scratching, structural damage, and health risks that come with a full infestation by November or December.

This is a practical guide to what to inspect, what to look for, and what to do when you find a problem.

Why September Is the Right Window

There is a short period each fall when conditions are ideal for prevention work. September sits squarely in that window for several reasons.

Animals are actively probing structures for entry points but have not yet nested. This means exclusion work actually stops the problem rather than responding to one already underway. It is also the first month after bat maternity season ends in mid-August, which means licensed bat exclusion can resume legally. And foliage is still on the trees, which makes it easier to spot animals accessing your roofline from overhanging branches.

By October, many animals have already found their way in. By November, they are established. September work is preventive. Everything after that is reactive.

The Exterior Inspection

Walk the full perimeter of your home and look at every transition point where two materials meet, where something penetrates the exterior, or where age or weather may have created a gap. Bring binoculars for the roofline.

Roofline and Soffits

This is where most wildlife entry happens. Look for:

  • Gaps where the soffit panel meets the fascia board, especially at corners
  • Warped, cracked, or missing soffit sections
  • Dark staining or grease marks along the roofline, which indicate repeated animal contact at an entry point
  • Chewed or enlarged openings in wood trim
  • Gaps where the roof edge meets the top of the exterior wall

Vents and Openings

Every vent on your home is a potential entry point. Check:

  • Dryer vents and bathroom exhaust vents at the exterior wall. The flap should close completely when not in use. Damaged or missing flaps are open invitations for birds and squirrels.
  • Ridge vents along the peak of the roof for gaps or damaged sections
  • Gable vents on the ends of the attic for missing screens or deteriorated frames
  • Attic louvers for broken slats or gaps around the frame

Chimney

Look for a chimney cap and confirm it is intact and properly secured. A missing or damaged cap is one of the most common entry points for raccoons, squirrels, and birds. Also check the flashing where the chimney meets the roofline for gaps or separation.

Foundation and Ground Level

At ground level, inspect:

  • Gaps where utility lines (gas, electric, water, cable) enter the foundation
  • The bottom seal of garage doors for gaps or deterioration
  • Crawl space vents for broken screens or missing covers
  • Any gaps where the sill plate meets the foundation

The Interior Inspection

After checking the exterior, go inside and look for signs that something may have already found its way in.

Attic

Bring a flashlight and check the full perimeter where the roof deck meets the exterior walls. Look for daylight coming through gaps, droppings on the insulation, disturbed or compressed insulation, and any nesting material. Fresh droppings indicate active activity. Old, dry droppings may mean a past problem that was never fully sealed.

Crawl Space

Check for droppings, disturbed vapor barrier, nesting material in corners, and any signs of burrowing near the foundation walls. Skunks and groundhogs commonly den in crawl spaces during fall.

Garage

Garages are frequently overlooked. Look for droppings along walls, gnaw marks on stored items, and gaps where the walls meet the ceiling or where utility lines pass through.

What to Do When You Find a Problem

If your inspection turns up signs of animal activity, do not seal the entry points yourself before confirming whether animals are already inside. Sealing an active entry point traps animals inside the structure, where they will cause more damage trying to get out, or die and create an odor problem.

If you find evidence of current activity, the correct sequence is: professional inspection to confirm species and activity status, removal if animals are present, then sealing and exclusion once the structure is clear.

If your inspection finds only potential entry points with no signs of current activity, those gaps should still be sealed before animals find them. Hardware cloth, steel wool packed into gaps, and properly installed vent covers are the appropriate materials. Foam sealant alone is not sufficient, as most wildlife can chew through it.

Contact Bay Area Wildlife Solutions

Bay Area Wildlife Solutions provides exterior inspections and full exclusion services throughout Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, including Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Dover, Ocean City, Salisbury, and surrounding communities. September is our busiest month for prevention work, and for good reason.

Call us at (302) 500-0181 or contact us online to schedule an inspection before fall wildlife season is fully underway.